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LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 



OF OUR SAVIOUR, 



LEGEND 



Of the Infancy 



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OUR SAVIOUR, 



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BY 



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JULIET H. LrCAMPBELL. 

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Philadelphia: 

J B. LIFFINCOTT &: CO. 

1862. 



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Eutered, according to Act of Congress, in the j'ear 1861, by 

JULIET H. L. CAMPBELL, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 

Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



1 ^ ^ ^ 



• Under a palm tree, by the green old Nile, 

Lull'd on his mother's breast, the fair child lies, 
With dove-like breathings, and a tender smile, 

Brooding above the slumber of his eyes. 
While, through the stillness of the burning skies, 

Lo ! the dread works of Egypt's buried kings, 
Temple and pyramid, beyond him rise, 
- Regal and still as everlasting things ! 
Vain pomps ! from Him, with that pure flowery cheek, 

Soft shadow'd by his mother's drooping head, 
A new-born Spirit, mighty, and yet meek, 

O'er the whole world like vernal air shall spread ! 
And bid all earthly grandeurs cast the crown 

Before the suffering and the lowly, down." 

Hemaxs. 



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MAMMA. 



PREFACE. 



The story of the healing of a prince's son by the 
infant Saviour, during the sojourn in Egypt, is one 
of the sweetest of those antique, and imaginative, 
traditions, which formed a portion of the lay litera- 
ture of the early church. 

In elaborating, and adapting this tale to modern 
taste, I have endeavored to preserve that Oriental 
aroma, which is the most subtile charm of the Apoc- 
ryphal legends. 

The story which is the basis of this poem, is told 
in the ''Gospel of the Infancy,'' — a book, rejected as 
apocryphal by the council of Christian Fathers, but 
received by the Gnostics, a sect of Christians, in the 
second century. That the curious reader may see 
what liberties have been taken with the original, I 
append an extract from the translation, published 
in 1697, by Mr. Henry Sike, Professor of Oriental 

(ix) 



X PREFACE. 

Languages, Cambridge, and more recently embraced 
in a collection of apocryphal writings. A note in 
said collection, informs us that MSS. containing the 
matter of this gospel are extant in the Welsh lan- 
guage, under the title of Mahinogi Jesu Grist, 

" 17. And there was a girl there, whose body was 
white with a leprosy, who, being sprinkled with this 
water, (with which Christ had been washed,) was 
instantly cleansed from her leprosy. 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

*'19. And when they were making ready to go 
away, the girl who had been troubled with leprosy, 
came and desired they would permit her to go along 
with them. So they consented, and the girl went 
with them until they came into a great city, in which 
was the palace of a great king, and whose house was 
not far from the inn. 

"20. Here they stayed, and when the girl went 
one day to the prince's wife, and found her in a sor- 
rowful and mournful condition, she asked her the 
reason of her tears. 

''21. She replied, Wonder not at my groans, for I 
am under a great misfortune, of which I dare not 
tell any one. 



PREFACE. XI 

"22. But, says the girl, if you will intrust me with 
your private grievance, perhaps I may find a remedy 
for it. 

"23. Thou, therefore, says the prince's wife, shalt 
keep the secret, and not discover it to any one 
alive. 

"24. I have been married to this prince, w^ho 
rules as king over large dominions, and lived long 
with him before he had any child by me. 

"25. At length I conceived by him, but, alas! I 
brought forth a leprous son ; which, when he saw, 
he would not own to be his, but said to me, 

"26. Either do thou kill him, or send him to some 
nurse, in such a place that he may never be heard of. 
And now take care of yourself, for I will never see 
you more. 

"27. So here I pine, lamenting my wretched and 

miserable circumstances. Alas mv husband! Alas 

*> 

my son ! Have I disclosed it unto you ? 

" 28. The girl replied, I have found a remedy for 
your disease, which I promise you, for I also was lep- 
rous, but God hath cleansed me, even He who is 

called Jesus, the son of the Lady Mary. 
* -x- * -x- -x- * * 

"31. But by what means, says she, were you 



Xll PREFACE. 

cleansed from your leprosy? Will you tell me 
that? 

*'32. Why not? says the girl: I took water with 
which his body had been washed, and poured it upon 
me, and my leprosy vanished. 

" 33. The prince's wife then arose, and entertained 
them : providing a great feast for Joseph among a 
large company of men. 

'' 34. And the next day took perfumed water to 
wash the Lord Jesus, and afterward poured the same 
water upon her son, whom she had brought with her, 
and her son was instantly cleansed from his leprosy." 



Legend of the Infancy, 



PART FIRST. 



The peaceful night is troubled by a cry! — The traveler's 
Child, whom the little maid husheth, is troubled by a cry. 
— The little maid feareth dismal enchantments, but hath 
faith in the superior virtue of the mysterious mother and 
the wonderful Child, and putteth her trust in their God. — 
The Infant's garment wardeth off evil, because of her 
faith. — She findeth the tent of sorrow, and speaketh 
words of consolation, which the madness of grief rejects. 
— The little maid beholdeth a child afflicted grievously, 
and melteth with a tenderness which is mightier than 
loathing. — But the mother warneth her from contagion. 

I. 

The shades reached wide, at eventide, 

From sycamore and palm. 
And with their dusky arms, enclasped 

The land to charmed calm ; — 
The thirsty land, of sun-smit sand, 

Where dropped the dews like balm. 
2 (13) 



14 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 



II. 

Sweet peace sat in the palaces, 

Whose columns kissed the sky; 
Sat on the humble hostel shed, 

'Mid vine leaves nestling nigh ; 
And waved her wand, as wide as heaven, 

To bless both low and high. 
Then why, from out the wilderness, 

That piteous plaint and cry ? 

III. 

It shocked the air, when morning fair 

Came up the purple east, — 
It chid the chime of atabal, 

When kings sat down to feast, — 
And clamored to the drowsy night. 

When toil, and pleasure ceased. 

IV. 

A murmured moan, of human tone, 
From out the desert lair, 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 15 



As tireless as an angePs voice 
In paean, or in prayer; — 

As direful as the dreary wail 
Of demon in despair ! 



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V. 

''Oh ! weary have thy wanderings been ! 
Light may thy slumbers be !" 
Thus, sang a little Arab maid 
To the Infant on her knee. 
''Rest soft to-night, but ere the light, 
Fast through the desert flee, 
For thou must be a fugitive 
Beyond the ruby sea." 

VI. 
Thus, 'neath the hostePs shelter, sang 

The nurse, Namouna, mild; 
But in its sleep the Infant sobbed, 

And then, anon, He smiled. 
As He heard the moan, of human tone, 

From out the desert wild, 



16 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

As tireless as an angel's voice 

In paean, or in prayer ; — 
And direful as the dreary wail 

Of demon in despair. 

vn. 
''Oh, Mother-maid, with sun-bright brow, 
Soothe thou the Child to rest ! 
Prom noxious charms, and magic harms, 

Clasp to thy sacred breast ; — 
The matron love of a virgin heart, 
Shall be their alcahest." 

VIII. 

*'Lo ! I will take the swathing band. 

The sinless Infant wore, 
And safe, within its mystic folds, 

Yon wilderness explore ; 
From south to north, now back, now forth. 

To find this woe forlore." 

IX. 

Thus spake a maid of Araby, 
Within the hostePs shade : 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 17 

Albeit, a maid of Araby, 

To Judah's God she prayed, 
And forth, toward the desert sped, 

Like mercy, undismayed. 

X. 

The jackal, howling, hied away, 

His covert to regain ; — 
The dragon, impotent to harm, 

Withdrew his scaly train ; — 
And serpents, hissing helpless rage, 

Writhed, from her path, in pain : 

XI. 

Ibis and bittern, startled, fled 

Afar, in fear and shame — 
While birds of omen cleft the dusk 

With wing of meteor flame, 
As in her simple panoply, 

The faithful maiden came. 

XII. 

Oh, swathing band of Innocence ! 
What virtue in thy fold ? 
2* 



18 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

To change the heart of maidenhood, 

From timid unto bold, 
And scare, back to his noisome lair, 

The prowler of the wold ! 

XIII. 

Upon the simoon's sulphurous blast, 
Still rode that voice of drear ; 

And guided by its weary wail. 
With zeal, to mercy dear. 

Through nocturn shade, fast sped the maid. 
Undaunted by a fear. 

XIV. 

Behold, beside yon lonely tent 
A spectral woman stands ; — 

Flings to the air her rippling hair, 
All white with desert sands. 

And spreads abroad, in frantic prayer. 
Her supplicating hands. 

XV. 

''Daughter of desolation, hail !'' 
Namouna softly said. 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 19 

^' Peace to thy solitary paths, 
And by thy bitter bed ! 
There is a God, who heareth thee, 
And lifts thy stricken head." 

XVI. 

The mourner heeded not, nor ceased 

Her anguish to deplore ; 
But shred her tresses to the breeze, — 

Her hempen vesture tore, — 
And fiercely plucked her wounded breast, 

Defiled with dust and gore. 

XVII. 

'^ There is no peace 1 — there is no rest! — 
There is no god to heal ! — 
Dagon is dumb, and Gog is deaf, 

Nor yet can Baal feel ! — 
The Sun and stars, on shining thrones, 
Are cold to my appeal 1 

XVIII. 

**And as the gods stare pitiless 
From blinded eyes of stone. 



20 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

So, cruel man, is merciless 

To smitten flesh and bone : 
Behold my sorrow and mj sin, 

And then, in haste, begone !'^ 

XIX. 

She pointed 'neath the sheltering tent 
With gesture fierce and wild : 

Where, lo ! upon the naked ground 
There sat a little child, — 

A little, leprous infant, 

That patient sat, and smiled. 

XX. 

My God ! 'twas piteous to see 
That smile on his drear face ; 

Whence a loathsome blight, all scaled and 
white, 
Had quenched the infant grace ; 

The hideous blight of leprosy, 
No skill could e'er eiface. 

XXI. 

Oh, the quick gush of pitying tears, 
That to her eyelids start! 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 21 

The mighty impulses of love, 
That thrilled Namouna, swart, 

As she clasped the outoast innocent, 
Close to her yearning heart. 

XXII. 

** Unclean! unclean! AvauntI avaunt! 
Nor be thy flesh defiled !^' 
The shrieking mother fiercely tore 

From tender arms, her child, 
And on his young, unconscious head, 
The desert ashes piled. 



. ^5-N9'^§/3@^^^e/'2r-^ 



22 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 



PART SECOKD. 

The little maid is inspired with belief in God, and lays 
upon the wrath of grief, the charm she hath worn. — The 
virtue of Christ's garment subdueth the passion, and an 
impulse of partial belief stirreth the heathen woman. 
She tests the wisdom and truth of her comforter with 
obscure words. — The little maid understandeth her say- 
ings; maketh light of them, and answereth with the 
great mystery of Christianity. — The heathen is seized 
by that conviction of the truth of things not under- 
stood, which is Christian faith, and telleth her story; 
confesseth her repinings, because she was childless, amid 
the universal motherhood of nature. — The taunts of a 
Hebrew captive, having exasperated the queen to cruelty 
and despair, the God of the captive sendeth her desire ; 
which she hails as a blessing, but anon, recognizes as a 
punishment. 

I. 

Sweet comes the lullaby of calms, 
Where warring tempests meet, — 

All sweetly treads the dewy night, 
On noontide's fiery feet, — 

And rising from yon vitreous waste, 
The palm-plumed isles are sweet ! 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 
II. 

Than calm, to storm, — than dew, to 
drought, — 

Than vert, 'mid deserts sere — 
More sweet, the lofty chaunt of Hope 

To a despairing ear ; — 
And sweeter^ to the desolate. 

The voice of human cheer ! 

III. 
^^ Forbear thy dole, unquiet soul ! 
My God hath seen thy sorrow. 
Though heavy be the shrouded night, 

Joy dawneth with the morrow ; 
Exalt thy heart in hope, and light, 
From morning's promise borrow !" 

IV. 

'Twas thus the young Namouna spoke, 

In tones compassionate ; 
As, folding on that anguished breast, 

The sacred mithridate, 
Of a holy Infant's swathing band, 

She bade its rage abate. 



24 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

V. 

Then woe forgot to wail ; and peace 
Subdued the passion keen: 

While instantly, as out of heaven, 
There fell a calm serene. 

As the mother sat beside the maid, 
The wondering child between. 

VI. 

'^And if," she said, 'Hhere healing be 
In Him thou dost adore ; 

Or power, to pluck the fang of grief, 
From out my bosom's core, — 

The riddle I rehearse to thee. 
With prescient art explore. 

VII. 

'^The barren heareth bitter fruit 
When vintage time is o^er; 

His living sons, a childless king, 
In anguish doth deplore: 

Accursed be the answered prayer. 
For ever, ever, moreP^ 



OP OUR SAVIOUR. 25 

VIII. 

She took the babe upon her knee, 

And said, that maiden mild : 
'' This is thy late and bitter fruit : 

The king's dishonored child ! 
And this thy granted prayer — thy curse !'' 

The dismal infant smiled, 
Answering, as might a happier wight, 

By honeyed words beguiled. 

IX. 

While with fresh rage, his mother sought 

To rend her horrent hair ; 
But the spell of rest, upon her breast, 

Overmastered its despair, 
And folded calm, each quivering palm, 

Athwart her brow in prayer. 

X. 

'^Thy words are naught,'' Namouna said: 
^'Behold, I show to thee, 
Sayings obscure, yet full of light. 

And precious augury. 
Hearken the sacred oracles, 
Of heavenly mystery." 
3 



26 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

XI. 

*^ The purest mother in the land, 
Is a maiden undefiled: — 
The Power that framed the universe 

Dwells in a little child : — 
A God is man, — a man is God, — 
And wrath is reconciled P^ 

xn. 

The raver drew her fingers through 
Those locks that, unconfined, 

Trailed to the dust their sinuous length, 
Or writhed along the wind ; 

And round her brow, grown placid now, 
Their dusky coil entwined. 

XIII. 

" Oh, wondrous messenger of ruth ! 

Throughout my soul doth thrill 
The weird wit of thy mystic speech ; 

What superhuman skill, 
Dispelleth doubt, compelleth faith, 

And leads my rebel will V 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 27 

XIV. 

''This head, debased and shelterless, 

Hath worn a golden crown ; 
And 'neath vermilion canopies, 

Hath lain in honor down ; — 
This head, on which irreverent suns 

Glare, through the sackcloth brown 1 

XV. 

'' These tender feet have wearied, in 

Triumphal paths of kings ; 
And rested on the marble floors, 

Whose perfumed fountain springs 
In foamy plumes— these wounded feet. 

Bleeding with reptile stings ! 

XVI. 

''With stateliest observances 
Slaves compassed me about ; 
While brazen doors, and porphyry walls. 

Shut all dishonor out. 
But through the gate, and past the guard, 
Came discontent and doubt I 



28 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

XVII. 

*'For, childless in the land I moved, 

All motherhood among: 
The lion-hunted Antelope 

Brought forth her hardy young ; 
About the sacrificial doves, 

Their tender nestlings clung ; 
And to her breast, my captive maid, 

Clasped the king's child, and sung :• 

XVIII. 

" 'Now blessed be my father's God, 

In that He blesseth me ! 
And giveth one, such princely son, 

To sit upon my knee, 
Cursing the queen with barrenness, — 

The queen who hateth thee ! 
The sparrows, on their teeming nests, 

Are worthier than she !' 

XIX. 

" Fast fled her child unto the wild, 
As hunted fox-cubs fly. 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 29 

When strangled there, in tangled hair, 

I bade his mother lie ; — 
And through the air, in mad despair. 

Lifted a bitter cry, 
For any god, to hear my prayer, 

And send it swift reply ! 

XX. 

''And I was answered. In that hour, 

A life that was not mine. 
Stirred in my breast, and hushed to rest. 

The passion, and repine. 
My guilty soul grew purged and whole. 

And peaceful as a shrine. 
When the king loved me for that life. 

With love that was not mine. 

XXI. 

"' Oh, bliss too brief ! oh, endless grief I 
When I had brought the spark 
Of precious life, with pain and strife. 

Forth from a chaos dark, 
And saw the fresh, the new-born flesh, 
Scaled with the leprous mark ! 
3* 



30 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

XXII. 

'' Oh, cruel was the father's rage, 
That would have slain his son ! 

And pitiless the husband's eyes, 
That bade my sorrow shun. 

The solace of their love and light, 
And from their sight begone. 

XXIII. 

'' The barren beareth bitter fruit 
When vintage time is o'er ; 

His living sons, a childless king, 
In sorrow doth deplore ; 

Accursed be the answered prayer 
For ever, ever more !" 



^.y3^^gg/g^GV9--> 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 31 



PART THIRD. 



The little maid leadeth the heathen to Christ, teaching the 
mystery of His salvation. — Encompassed and directed by 
God^s unseen influences, they reach the Saviour! who 
accepts the bath, typical of His baptism; which, being 
afterward administered to the unclean, accomplisheth 
his regeneration, and floweth perpetually, for the healing 
of nations, while the angels of heaven rejoice evermore. 

I. 

Namouna took the infant up, 

Low, groveling, in the sand : 
She laid him on his mother's breast, 

She took his mother's hand, 
And led her through the wilderness, 

Unto the pleasant land. 

II. 

And as they toiled along the waste, 

Or rested on the wold — 
Rehearsed, in lingering, or in haste, 

That wondrous story, told 
By Sybils to the passing time, 

By Prophets to the old, — 



32 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

III. 

Of Mary's maiden motherhood, 

And of the Holy One, 
Who was divine, and human, too : 

Her God, and eke, her son ; 
Who came with grace, to save a race, 

That sinned beneath the sun. 

IV. 
Then, falling from such lofty theme, 

Into a lowlier tale, 
Told, she had been a leper, too, 

And nothing could avail. 
Till Godhead, throned in baby eyes, 

Kebuked her heavy ail. 

V. 

Thus passed they to the pleasant land ; 

Around their pathway shone 
The starry lilies of the field ; 

While all the night was strown 
With stars, (as lilies pure and pale !) 

To light the wanderers on. 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 33 

VJ. 

A milky dove flew on before, — 

A snowy lamb behind, 
Past followed — and these they saw : 

But saw not, (being blind I) 
The feet of angels, on the way — 

Their wings upon the wind I 

VTI. 

They passed into the pleasant land ; 

And ceased their journey, where 
A lady, stately as the palm, 

And as the lily, fair — 
With paly rays of glory blent 

Amid her golden hair — 
Sat, throned, on an emerald hill, 

Illumining the air. 
Couched at her feet the crescent moon. 

And in her arms a Child, 
More glorious than the cherubim. 

Serenely sat, and smiled. 

VIII. 

*'Hail, Mother-maid !" Namouna said, 
*'The guiding stars are higji ! 



34 A LEGEND OF THE INFANCY 

And all thy glowing couriers 

Wait in the midnight sky. 
Ere sultry day looks on the way, 

Rise from thy rest, and fly ! 

IX. 

**But first, from yonder spring I'll bring 

The water flowing free, 
To lave the baby limbs of Him 

Who nestles on thy knee, 
That so, refreshed, my Lord shall pass 

Beyond the ruby sea.'' 

X. 

She filled a basin at the fount 

With water pure and clean : 
She dipt the Infant's radiant form 

Low in the crystal sheen ; 
And through prismatic waves, that dashed 

In tiny swell between. 
Glimpses of rainbowed glory flashed 

In crimson, gold, and green ! 



OF OUR SAVIOUR. 35 

XI. 

The leper clapped his little hands, 

Such wondrous sight to see ! 
The leper clapped his lothly hands, 

And laughed with hideous glee, 
As he caught the drops our precious Lord 

Plashed to him sportively. 

XII. 

The leper clapped his little hands. 

And wagged his lothlj chin, 
When Jesus left the wondrous bath, 

And he was lifted in. 
And cleansed, from flesh, the leprosy, 

And washed, from soul, the sin. 

XIII. 

While, lo ! a healing bounteousness 

Overflowed the vessePs brim. 
Past all the nations of the earth, 

And down to ages dim ; 
As, to the music of far spheres, 

Thus sang the seraphim :— 



36 LEGEND OF THE INFANCY. 

XIV. 

" The purest maiden in the earth 

Is a mother undefiled ! 
The Power that framed the universe 

Rests in a little child ! 
A God is man ! a man is God ! 

And wrath is reconciled !" 



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